Gay sleep

So, thank you. I use she/her pronouns and I do not have a diagnosed sleep disorder. So, what I would say—Okay, so like you’re saying, Edgar— you know, doctors are— you know, and lots of well-meaning people are— you know, doing a lot of education and awareness work and this is really vital important work, right?

And to top things off, he played soccer and basketball.

I digress but I think you get the idea.

During the first couple of weeks of lockdown, we tried passing the time like a lot of folks do – Netflix, board games, and super long walks to get in cardio.

Can you relate?

Mike even started showing me ways to workout using resistance bands and a kettlebell.

Because I was just going from crisis to crisis, like as a lifestyle. You know, if I get real tired from dancing and feel like I’m going to have a moment. Have you connected your sleep health and your identity before?

Elizabeth: There are lots of Facebook groups and support through social media, and I– you know, when I did discover that these were available– it took me years after the fact to feel comfortable enough to even inch in there, because I was so– afraid.

You’ve got to have regularly scheduled naps. To not make anyone else uncomfortable.

Lauren: Thank you so much, y’all.

Edgar: So, creating those boundaries so that you can be your most authentic self because without sleep, you cannot do that. So now I’ve got a schedule that’s built around having naps and kind of having the opportunity to figure out about my body.

So, I’ve kind of readjusted. And– for a lot of queer people, our safe spaces, our most fun spaces, happen at night. Like for me, when I was 16 I came out and it like did not go well in my home and it became a really unsafe space for me. And I– like I can kind of relate to that too, I’ve had dreams lately. So, I was laughing because– they know.

Lauren: With a whole lot of contradictions. I usually have moments where I have friends peer pressuring me to stay out a little longer and like, oh, I just got here, I didn’t get to talk to you. And it might– I need to be able to do it however I can. And, one of the things– the barriers for me– when I finally got a diagnosis, and I had been struggling my entire life with this– and when I finally got a diagnosis, you know, I’m old and I don’t know about Facebook or anything like that, but– that was when I realized that there were all kinds of supports out there, you know.

Benny: A long time.

Sean: At the time, I thought it was related to work, that I was just ineffective in my job, not having any impact, as it were.